Both the “market master” (our on-site coordinator) and I are new this year to the City of Manassas Farmer’s Market. While it’s certainly been a learning curve for us both, we are excited to bring a new perspective to the market. I practically have the “What’s In Season?”
Virginia Calendar memorized now, whereas before I signed on as the market coordinator, I could give you a rough timeline of when things came into season. It’s both fun and overwhelming to learn so much about farming and produce.
I wanted to share with you some of the exciting additions to this year’s market:
-The market newsletter. Perhaps you’d like to know when sweet corn and tomatoes come into season (they’re in season now, by the way). Or maybe you’re wondering how to serve kohlrabi, since you’ve seen it at the market but feel a bit intimidated to give it a try. You can find all of this information and more in the market newsletter. We let you know which vendors will be at the market each week, provide recipes, and do a “vendor spotlight” that focuses on the wonderful people that make the market what it is. Sign up here.
-The market booth. Staffed with super volunteers (if you’d like to get involved, let me know), the market booth at the Saturday market provides you with the opportunity to ask questions about the market and vendors, as well as provide us with feedback. Stop by and say hello! Just look for the banner with our logo on it.
– The logo. We decided to try and “brand” our market this year by creating a logo. As the local food movement grows and more markets pop up, we want you to easily identify our market and our efforts. Creating community recognition was our goal, and we decided on an apple as the symbol since Virginia is known for its wonderful apples.
-The “Show Me Your Produce” Promotion. With presentation of your purchase from the Thursday market, stop by the lovely boutiques and shops in Old Town Manassas for a small gift or discount with purchase. Coolers are provided in select stores for you to store your market goodies while you shop.
-This blog! It’s nice to have an outlet to share in greater detail the benefits of farmer’s markets and healthy eating. I am also fortunate to share stories and musings about my experiences with the market here!
-Music in the Market. Almost every week, we try and showcase local talent at the Saturday market. It adds both a lovely ambiance and fun feel to the markets. Alan Byrd, who plays the blues, plays our market frequently.
-More to come…. Keep your eyes peeled because we have some great things coming down the pipeline. Our Thursday market will feature cooking demonstrations and sampling in the fall. We’re also looking to start a Tuesday afternoon market. Tuesdays are a great day to get more fresh groceries and make the Farmer’s Market a staple in your weekly shopping. We’ll keep you in the loop as these things unfold. Information is always available on our website, and you can sign up for the newsletter there as well.
Please share with us your thoughts on the market! It’s important for us to make it as valuable for the community as possible. As I’ve mentioned before, Farmer’s markets bring people together for a fabulous common cause and we are hoping to do justice to a community staple. You’re welcome to comment on this post or shoot me an email. Thanks for your patronage!
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